Football is a collision sport played at high speeds, making helmets a necessity. Helmets protect players from potentially serious head injuries throughout the course of a game or practice. They fit tightly enough to the head to absorb significant impact taken during a game, and because of this, helmets can sometimes be difficult to put on and take off. If it hurts to take your helmet off or put it on, however, you most likely need a size or padding adjustment.
Remove the Cheek Pads
The cheek pads are located just below the ear holes in every helmet. They are usually fastened with Velcro or snaps. The cheek pads will catch on your ears when you are trying to remove your helmet. So one option for making it easier to take your helmet off is to remove the cheek pads beforehand. Simply reach in with your index finger and pull the cheek pads off. The helmet will be easier to take off as it will slide right off your head without cheek pads. Cheek pads are a bit more difficult to snap back into place after the helmet is on your head, so this is probably not an option when putting on your helmet. You will have to snap the cheek pads back into place before doing so.
Air-Filled Pads
Some helmets have pads and bladders inside of them that can be filled with air to offer a better fit and more protection. If there is too much air pumped into the pads, the helmet will fit tightly to the head, and will also be more difficult to put on and take off. Manufacturers of helmets with air-filled pads also produce special pumps that can fill and release air from the pads. You could use the pump to release some of the air from the pads before putting on or taking off your helmet to make it easier.
Proper Helmet Sizing
If you are wearing a helmet that's too small, it will be more difficult to take off. Make sure you have the proper fit with your helmet. The front rim of the helmet should be about 1 inch, or one finger width, above the eyebrow. Then, use your fingers to check the helmet fit all the way around your head. The padding around the sides and front of the helmet should be firm against the head, but not too tight and not too loose. A helmet that fits too tightly will be difficult to put on and take off, so making sure you have the proper fit is essential.
Loosen the Chin Strap
All helmets come equipped with chin straps. All helmets use four snap points that are used to secure the chin strap to the helmet. But not all chin straps have four snaps -- some have two. For chin straps that use four snaps, the upper two snaps can remain snapped to the helmet at all times. They ensure that the chin strap will not come detached from the helmet during live play. The bottom two will secure the chin pad tightly to the chin. Unsnapping at least one of the bottom two snaps will allow you to put your helmet on and take it off more easily.
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